Cameroon judge frees men jailed for 'looking gay'

[Jupiter551]

What a fucked up world.

A COURT has overturned the conviction of two men who were sentenced for five years in prison for "looking gay" and ordering Bailey's Irish Cream.

Cameroon's Court of Appeals today acquitted the men and ordered their release. The two men had already spent more than a year in jail where they were subjected to abuse from guards and other prisoners, according to human rights advocates.

The new ruling has been hailed by human rights lawyers and gay rights advocates who urged President Paul Biya to release all other prisoners found guilty under the country's harsh anti-gay laws.

On December 17, a Cameroonian court upheld the five-year-sentence of another man, Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, who was convicted of sending a text message that said "I love you" to another man.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...-for-looking-gay/story-e6frep26-1226549519657

 

[Shaun__]

I have never understood why gay people face so much persecution. It would be nice to live long enough to see them gain acceptance around the world.

 

[Jupiter551]

Religion and homophobia are the main reasons. Both can be cured if society wants to.

 

[SatanJonez]

Drinking Bailey's is gay? Holy shit, half the men in my family have some explaining to do. But seriously, that beyond fucked. While we're still fighting for LGBQT equality in the U.S., at least we're not THIS bad. Although, sadly I think some people in this country would prefer all the the people that challenge common sexuality locked up.

 

[Jupiter551]

Drinking Bailey's is gay? Holy shit, half the men in my family have some explaining to do. But seriously, that beyond fucked. While we're still fighting for LGBQT equality in the U.S., at least we're not THIS bad. Although, sadly I think some people in this country would prefer all the the people that challenge common sexuality locked up.

LOL I know right, I like Bailey's. Also, if Bailey's is a sign of homosexuality and it's apparently illegal in Cameroon then why do they have Bailey's there - as a sting operation?

 

[mynameisbob84]

I love Baileys. Shit, I drink Pina Coladas on occassion

Seriously though, that's beyond fucked up. There's just this ass-backwards, ignorant, regressive, and frankly unintelligent culture that pervades certain corners of the world...

 

[Jupiter551]

There's just this ass-backwards, ignorant, regressive, and frankly unintelligent culture that pervades certain corners of the world...

Now, now to be fair it's not completely Catholic in Cameroon. :naughty:

 

[mynameisbob84]

There's just this ass-backwards, ignorant, regressive, and frankly unintelligent culture that pervades certain corners of the world...

Now, now to be fair it's not completely Catholic in Cameroon. :naughty:

By "corners of the world", I'm not singling out Cameroon, or suggesting that it's the whole of Cameroon that has a problem... just that there are parts of the world that are fucked.

 

[Nordling]

It doesn't help that countries like Uganda are being influenced by extreme fundamentalist Christians from the US.

Big names like Kenneth Starr, former White House investigator and president of Baylor University; Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church; Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy; and Stephen Noll of the American Anglican Council and vice chancellor of Ugandan Christian University, have all played a role on the African stage.

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/ex...anti-gay-policy-in-africa/Content?oid=1767227